My daughter and I spent nearly two years training at Hive Martial Arts, drawn to the supportive…read morecommunity fostered by Mr. Froeming and other members, which quickly felt like family. With over a decade of experience coaching all ages--especially youth--I also served as an assistant coach and videographer at Hive, supporting the school in any way I could. Unfortunately, a recent incident with a confrontational parent, Andrea Deshone, exposed serious gaps in the school's approach to conflict resolution. After a class, Andrea aggressively approached me over a complaint from her daughter, Stella, an instructor at Hive that day. Instead of addressing her concerns professionally, Stella went to her mother, who then confronted me. Despite my calm requests for space, Andrea refused to back away and even stepped closer when I expressed that I felt threatened, effectively cornering me. She got so close that I could feel her breath and spit. Mr. Froeming and another student approached, and I pleaded for help, explaining that I felt attacked and trapped. It can be as frightening for a man to feel threatened by a woman, knowing that defending oneself could have serious consequences. Unfortunately, this nuance was not acknowledged here. A trusted adult student witnessed the exchange, observing that I had simply asked a question of the only instructor in my group. Later, this student confirmed to Mr. Pallesen that I had done nothing wrong. Despite this corroboration and texts supporting my account, Mr. Pallesen never acknowledged this and chose not to address the issue. Initially, he agreed to mediate, but after I submitted a personal account explaining the incident's impact on my CPTSD--which affected me severely for two weeks and still affects me--he declined to read it and suggested I pretend the incident hadn't happened. When I asked if he would take the situation seriously if the genders were reversed, he confirmed that he would, highlighting an inconsistency. In our exchanges, Mr. Pallesen shared his own experience with Andrea, recounting how her family aggressively confronted him in 2017 about his treatment of children, saying, "What the f--k happened? Why are you treating the kids like this?" According to him, this intervention forced him to self-reflect, helping him save his business. He also explained that Andrea's family threatened him with a bad review, which he acknowledged could have impacted his business. This may explain his reluctance to address my situation directly, but I genuinely hope he learns from this experience as he did with his previous encounter so he can grow as both an instructor and a leader. This experience reflects broader concerns about leadership and standards at Hive. During one leadership lecture, Mr. Pallesen stated that "both political parties are basically the same," a comment that bothered one student, Beth, so much that she responded, "That is the definition of white privilege," highlighting a lack of sensitivity in a group that includes people of color and people of the LGBTQ+ community. While Mr. Froeming and most of the community were wonderful, the lack of professional support from leadership ultimately left my daughter and me feeling disconnected from a place we once considered family. I share this review in the hope that Hive Martial Arts can reflect and grow, strengthening its community for all.

Great school with amazing teachers. My son has been going here for five years. I would never go…read moreanywhere else! I will follow this dojo anywhere if they ever move! Best dojo ever!!!!! :)

I've dropped into Southside BJJ a handful of times when I'm in Minneapolis for work, and every…read moresingle time I'm blown away by how welcoming and friendly everyone is. From the moment I walk in, they treat me like I've been training there for years. The coaching is legit. I always leave with something new to work on -- and I've actually been able to use what I've learned here in competitions and open mats back home, with solid results. Whether you're just visiting the area or you live nearby and are looking for a gym, I highly recommend checking this place out. Great people, great instruction, no ego -- just high-level jiu-jitsu and a good vibe.

This is a top notch jiu jitsu gym in the heart of Minneapolis. I was in town for work and dropped…read morein. Enrique was super courteous and responsive, and Walker, Daniel, and Grayson taught an excellent no-gi class. The students are tough and you can tell they are receiving great instruction on a regular basis. I highly recommend this jiu jitsu gym!

No longer at 1940 Hennepin Avenue, but a great school to study with. Cheng Man-Ching's 37 move…read moreshort form is taught very thoroughly by teachers who have studied with Professor's (Cheng Man-Ching) students. Sword form and push hands are also taught at the studio. Yearly workshops with excellent teacher in the lineage from Taiwan. School is now located at 4557 Colfax Avenue in St Luke's Episcopal . For more information, contact Great River Tai Chi Chuan on Facebook.

Wonderful Aikido school with great lineage and a skilled instructors. The teachers are all very…read morenice, approachable, and precise. Instructions are always clear and there is never any hesitation from teachers (or senior students) to help students of all levels. The training space is clean and accessible, and there are many options for classes at different days and times. The Aikido Yoshokai Kobukan dojo is a very positive environment, welcoming and supportive. Lots of support and encouragement from instructors and fellow students to keep learning, trying, and growing. By putting in the training time you will find yourself growing in areas of your life other than just martial arts. The Aikido is phenomenal (and fun!), but make no mistake that many of the lessons here extend beyond the mat. I recommend this dojo to anyone interested in practicing Aikido or martial arts, both kids and adults.

From the owner: Aikido is a form of Japanese Budo, a way of study, including physical and mental training. The…read moreKobukan Dojo is located at the Movement Arts Center in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis and is the Twin Cities' leading club in practice of Yoshokai-style Aikido. Check out or website for details.

This place is so much more than just a martial arts studio--it's a true pillar of the community…read more The team at World's Martial Art Center brings incredible energy, discipline, and care to every class, creating a safe and welcoming space for students of all ages and skill levels. Whether you're looking to build confidence, stay active, or find a supportive environment for your kids, WMAC delivers on all fronts. Their commitment to personal growth and community outreach makes them an asset to the neighborhood. It's places like this that help create stronger, more connected communities--and we're lucky to have them right here. Highly recommend checking them out!

I recently attended a trial for World Martial Arts Song Moo Kwan Hapkido Program. I have been a…read moreHapkido student for several years and was very impressed with this program. First off I must say this is the most beautiful well thought out Martial Arts facility that I have ever been to. The school has a rich history and the Instructor Master Pat Carey is excellent and knowledgeable in both Hapkido and Taekwondo. The entire organization is very courteous and welcoming both students and Instructors. It can be difficult to find a Dojang teaching true and pure Hapkido that is not hybridized with Taekwondo but the school does a great job of keeping the two arts separate. I highly recommend anyone interested in an Excellent traditional Martial Arts program give World Martial Arts a try.

I did the one week trial period which was roughly $30 and you get a pair of boxing gloves. I…read morethoroughly enjoyed my experience, I did a few kickboxing classes, Muay Thai and tried MMA for the first time! They make the whole experience not intimidating for first timers like me and the gym itself was so spacious! The instructors were all very knowledgeable and friendly. I would definitely consider coming back again but it was a long drive for me so that one reason why I stopped going. The only recommendation I have is make sure you arrive at least 5 minutes early to all your classes, especially if they are in the afternoon because the parking lot fills up quickly!

Recently, I completed the 6 week challenge, which gave me the motivation to come back and start…read moreattending classes again. For the challenge we were to attend kickboxing classes 3 times a week. Originally I was signed up for Muay Thai, as I found it to be an interesting art, but after the challenge, I found I enjoyed the kickboxing a lot and signed up for that instead. I was worried about finding time to attend, but they have so many classes on their schedule that I can always find a class that matches my schedule, no matter how much my schedule changes week to week. While I worked the fair, I was able to attend morning classes. When I went back to my normal work schedule they had a class almost every night of the week. The coaches are absolutely phenomenal. Being that there are so many classes, there are also a few coaches, and they all teach their classes differently, while still changing it up from class to class. Not only are you getting a satisfying workout, but you are getting a variety that promises you'll never get bored. As for the people, they are all very friendly. Although I attend classes alone, there is always somebody to practice with. Often we end up pairing up, and if you didn't bring a friend you'll have to make a new friend. I have not had one bad experience with all of the people I have worked with. As great as a place is, if the people aren't friendly, then it basically becomes a chore to attend. I actually find myself looking forward to attending classes and meeting new people. Overall, I would highly recommend taking a look at this gym. The classes are great and flexible; the coaches are knowledgeable and helpful; and the people are extremely friendly. UPDATE 9/11/19- 11 months later and I still find myself getting excited to attend classes everyday. In fact, sometimes I dread holidays or vacations due to the classes I'd have to miss. I've started many hobbies and quit after a month or two because I was bored or just didn't feel like I belonged. Here I feel like everyone is so inclusive and welcoming. I've expanded from kickboxing and Muay Thai into Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and am loving it just as much as the other two. Unfortunately, this does mean I do have to cut back on one of the other two in order to participate, but that's what I get for wanting to try everything. One important thing to note is that The Cellar is not just for the combatants looking to get into the or improve their fighting prowess. Yes, if that is what you're looking for, this place is amazing, but for an average Joe, Jill or whoever, this is a good place to meet new friends and get in a fun workout. P.S. The website is also super slick. I really like that they now have pictures showing which coaches teach which classes.